The Town of Ocean Isle Beach issued a State of Emergency and Voluntary Evacuation beginning at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 6, 2016. Brunswick County will open shelters on Friday, October 7, 2016 at West Brunswick High School (Pet Friendly) and North Brunswick High School.

Please remember during a Voluntary Evacuation the Town will maintain basic services (EMS, Fire and Police) to the extent reasonably possible during a hurricane. However, it is possible that a Mandatory Evacuation could be necessary, at which time these services may not be available depending on the strength of the storm.

It is important to note that the Odell Williamson Bridge will be closed to traffic should there be sustained winds of 50 mph or greater. The bridge would not be reopened until conditions subside and passage is deemed safe by the Chief of Police.

At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Matthew was located near latitude 26.2 North, longitude 78.6 West. The hurricane is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue tonight with a turn toward the north-northwest early Friday. On the forecast track, the eye of Matthew should move near or over Freeport in the Bahamas in the next hour or so, and move close to or over the east coast of the Florida peninsula through Friday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph (220 km/h) with higher gusts. Matthew is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely while the hurricane moves toward the coast of Florida.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km). Settlement Point in the Bahamas, recently reported a sustained wind of 54 mph (87 km/h) with a gust of 62 mph (100 km/hr).

•Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for our area beginning at 5:00 PM on October 6, 2016 until October 9, 2016 at 5:00 PM EDT.

•Rainfall totals for Ocean Isle Beach have been predicted between 11-13 inches.

•The current forecast indicates the strongest winds should begin on Saturday evening around 7-8 PM and continue through midnight. The winds are expected to be from the N/NE at 35-45 mph with gust up to 55 mph.

•A Flash Flood Watch is also in effect for our area.

•Conditions should improve later in the afternoon on Sunday.

It is important that you stay informed in regards to this storm.

Please continue to make preparations for this storm and be prepared. This site will be updated periodically as new information is available